The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-10-27
The Cholera in New York.
FromDsniel's Medical Journal

! FromDsniel's Medical Journal.
F When we reflect that it is the truth, {
matter beyond dispute, that quarantine
alone has never successfully barred the
march of cholera, the landing of cargo
of 500 passengers infected with the fear
full plague, right into the heart of Amer
lean population and commerce, is enough
TO cause the stoutest heart to quake and
the bravest to tremble with fear. Think
of it! Once passed the slim barrier OPP
posed to it, and which has so often
proved futile, perhaps one hundred
thousand of our peoplO will fall victims
to its insatiate rage, and our fair land will
become charnel house and scene OF
deepest woe. Yet, strange apathy! the
people seem as unconcerned as if cholera
were at the moon.
We do not wish to be considered sensa
tionists, but it were folly to shut our eyes
to facts, and more than folly to have no
realizing sense of the great and imminent
danger now threatening US.
| We quote from an eminent English
authority in the British Medical journal,
| ('Prevention or Restriction of Cholera"
by II. Thorne Thorne, NJ. D., Lond.: F.
R.C.S.)
France Is quarantine country, and
in 1884 she had full knowledge of the fact
that her ports were in constant COM
munication with Tonquin, where cholera
was then prevailing. This, however, did
not prevent the importation of the disease
into Toulon in June of that year. Thence
cholera spread to Marseilles and other
French cities and towns, until, by the
close of the year, some five thousand
nj
followed by renewed epidemic in 1852
Italy, learning of cholera in France, at
once imposed measures of quarantine on
all her coasts and frontiers. But the
disease passed freely through the barrier,
and entered by the sea-as we'll as by
land-frst attacking the coast and from
tier provinces. By the close of the year
her Off cial record told of 1929 cholera
deaths, 3,459 more following in 1885, the
disease being maintained during 1886,
and even to the present date.
algeria, only approachabIe from
France by sea, imposed stringent measures
of quarantine at all her ports, but the
disease made its way in by those very
ports, and spread east and west along the
coast line.
Spain is strictly quarantine country,
and she, too, laid down rigid quarantine
regulations against France, Italy, Algeria
and Other countries. But cholera entered
by maritime province, the result being
an initial epidemic in 1884, and no less
than 1880 deaths in 1885"
$50 much for cholera prevention in
countries resorting to their own approved
measures of restriction"
These are fearful facts, and yet our
health officers seem willing to try it again;
to try to do what no other nation on earth
has ever been able to do As well might
they endeaVor TO stop locomotive with
brush broom! If they are doing this
and nothing more.
But, 1t will be asked-what else can we
do: The first mistake was made, it is al.
legged, in permitting the Alesia to touch
American soil. 1t is charged that the
authorities should have turned the vessel
back to sea with all those we'll persons on
board, which would have been to condemn
them to certain fate. Such an act would
have been in violation of the plainest die
tates of common humanity. "Self preser-
walton, they answer is the first law of
life" and they claim that in this civilized
age We should do, as it is said, the ancient
Romans did, sacrifice the few for the
safety of the many"
This is all wrong, and such doctrine is
opposed to all reason; it would be as de-
structive to commerce, and more cruel
than the shot gun quarantine. Such an
act would shame a savage!
The landing of the vessel was all
right, but the detention of the
we'll was, and is, all wrong. They should
have been permitted to go on their way,
and doubtless by this time the disease
would have been stamped out. The
danger-the great DANGER the great
wrong and great injustice and inhumanity
consist in keeping those hundreds of well
persons herded together, fuel for the
flame, almost sure to be consumed: and
the longer they stay, the more infection
will be generated, the more foci, from
which the disease will radiate, are created
and an epidemic will be almost surely
ignited. L be people of New York should
rise up, and even now. demand their re-
lease: demand that all that kindiing to
the flame be scattered-that these people, |
to cruelty detained, should be permitted |
to go on their way rejoicing.
This may, toIsome, sound like a para. |
dox, and to those who advocate non.inter-
course, and who would send the Alesia |
adrift, it may seem absurd; this would ap- !
be the surest way to scatter the |
disease; but experience has demonstrated |
time and again, that inspection and |
isolation, with non-detention of the we'll |
is the only plan which has ever prevented |
the progress and spread of cholera. 1t is
on the same principle that fire is limited
by the removal of adjacent conbustibles.
Let Us to the proof, and to the plan die
tated by reason, and approved by expert
ence in country which claims to be.iu the
van of sanitary progress,a whose claim is
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